Reggie Bush confident Matthew Stafford will rebound in 2014

Ever since Joe Lombardi was hired as the new offensive coordinator in Detroit, we’ve heard about intentions of building a Saints-type offense with the Lions in 2014.

A lot of the talk has come from running back Reggie Bush, who played for the Saints when Lombardi was on the coaching staff in New Orleans, and who has been relentlessly optimistic about what the new scheme will mean for him and other skill position players. Having covered that territory pretty well, Bush has now moved on to being full of sunshine about what quarterback Matthew Stafford can do in the offense.

“There is not a lot Matt can’t do,” Bush said, via NFL.com. “I think coach Lombardi’s gonna be really good for him. A guy who coached for a great quarterback Drew Brees and under Sean Payton and they’ve done a lot of great things down there in New Orleans and I was part of that. I think it’s going to be a great offense for Matt and it’s gonna be a big year for him.”

Stafford unravelled late last season and his 2011 season still stands out as the only year that saw him both healthy and playing at a very high level, but Lombardi isn’t the only addition designed to make life better for him in 2014. Wide receiver Golden Tate and tight end Eric Ebron have joined Calvin Johnson as targets for Stafford’s passes, which sets the stage for a rebound on offense in Detroit. If it doesn’t happen, the Lions will have to ask some hard questions about Stafford after overhauling both scheme and supporting cast.

I’ve watched nearly every game Stafford had played. He has the gun slinger mentality like Favre. He makes impossible throws but also very dumb ones. Not sure if you can change his mind set without ruining his game but it would be nice for him to throw a ball away once in a while.

touchdownroddywhite says:Jun 11, 2014 8:08 AM

He did some good things last year despite the up and downs of his season. Fake spake at the goal line anybody?

thelionsrgreat says:Jun 11, 2014 8:11 AM

He has to rebound. He has not proven anything to me to begin with. 5000+ yards is great, but 4000 with a title is far better. Has to be coach able and I’m not convinced he is. Says his mechanics are fine, when clearly they are NOT. All riding on his shoulders. We shall see.

After prematurely extending Stafford’s contract, 2014 is not quite a make or break season for Stafford but it is a statement season. If he flourishes in a new system with new weapons the Lions can feel good about the QB going forward. If the mental errors and erratic padding continues, the team will need to do more than adding the likes of Orlovsky and James Franklin during the next offseason. They will need to draft Stafford’s replacement.

The guy has never had a legitimate number 2 WR (Kris Durham, Nate Burleson, Titus Young) much less a legitimate number 3 (Pettigrew). Tate and Ebron fill those roles and loosen the slack on him finding Megatron for 200 yards per game.

They also had some of the most mind-boggling playcalling last season with Linehan (who has coached Stafford his entire career). I’m looking forward to the creativity Lombardi brings and also the chance to see Stafford and the offense try something new.

New weapons, new system, new coaches. This will be Stafford’s breakout season.

johnelwayishorsefaced says:Jun 11, 2014 9:46 AM

Now that Burleson’s gone when is purpleguy going to start complaining about how much Reggie Bush talks to the media?

guitarmy204 says:Jun 11, 2014 10:04 AM

If the lions were able to get a capable defense on the field, it would help stafford a lot.

How many dropped passes did the Lions have last year?
I believe they were second most in NFL….
Stafford is a excellent QB, but no matter how good he is he has to have receivers who can catch the ball…..

Dude’s a bust who throws for a bunch of yards, but can’t succeed because he has a 2 cent brain.

Next generation Tony Romo. All the stats in the world, except the one that counts – winning.

kdjoki says:Jun 11, 2014 2:42 PM

As with other posters have pointed out…the main problem with the offense last year was dropped passes. How many great drives were stopped by a dropped pass that was perfectly thrown. So how do you fix that problem? Sign the receiver who lead the league for the last two years with the fewest dropped passes in the league. Golden Tate….. draft the best TE in college football with Eric Obron.

With the new offensive coordinator Lombardi and head coach Caldwell…. the Lions are now poised to make the jump to an elite offense.